Chapter 55
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Hundred-Faced Ghost Hand Ha Hongjin
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“Indeed. By the way, you’re still alive, eh? I thought you were dead for sure.”
The white-haired old man responded in a casual tone while eyeing the sword-wielders collapsed on the floor.
Every one of them had rigid, stiffened bodies, their eyes closed.
And a foul stench wafted from them.
“You know they’re not dead, right? I did it with their well-being in mind, in my own way.”
“Hmph. Fair enough. If they’d seen my real face like this, they’d all be dead by my hand.”
“I know that temper of yours all too well. Haha…”
“Enough of that nonsense. Anyway, where is he? Didn’t you bring him with you?”
At the white-haired old man’s urging, Maeng Hyeok raised his left hand and politely pointed to Seonwoyong seated in the place of honor.
“Go on and pay your respects.”
But the white-haired old man simply stared at Seonwoyong with a baffled expression.
At that moment, Seonwoyong called out to the old man.
“You’re as suspicious as ever, then and now.”
With that, he picked up the glass in his hand and hurled it.
In an instant, the old man raised one hand to block the glass, but it never reached him.
The glass halted right in front of the old man’s eyes, at eye level in midair.
Then it turned red, melting like candle wax and beginning to drip in heavy drops.
It was the pinnacle of the Northern Sea Divine Art.
Only then did the white-haired old man drop to his knees and begin performing six deep bows toward Seonwoyong.
“Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand upon ten thousand years. Your subordinate Ha Hongjin pays respects to the Cult Leader. Have you been well?”
“Yes, it’s been a long time. And you?”
“Thanks to your concern, I’m still managing two meals a day.”
“That’s a relief. I’m truly delighted to meet you two today.”
Ha Hongjin sprang to his feet and bellowed in a clear, resounding voice.
“This won’t do. What fun is there in this mess and dreariness? I’ll have the room cleared at once.”
With that, he dashed out.
“That fellow hasn’t changed a bit.”
“Indeed.”
As the two nodded, servants had already entered, clearing away the collapsed men and empty bottles, while maids removed the tables.
The freshly laid tables held no elaborate dishes—just a few small plates of simple snacks.
Salt-roasted peanuts, ginkgo nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, that sort of thing.
But their placement on the table was peculiar.
For the three seated men, they weren’t positioned for easy reach by hand.
Instead, they sat atop specific regions and cities on a map.
“These are the snacks I must now pick at.”
Seonwoyong muttered gravely, and the Hundred-Faced Ghost Hand Ha Hongjin nodded as he continued.
“The Seven Great Families of our cult and the four martial units have already been deployed. They’ll likely commence operations soon.”
“The Kunlun Sect’s closure of their gates was undoubtedly that child’s doing as well?”
“Yes. I heard he ascended Kunlun alone last April, mid-month.”
“If Kunlun has sealed its gates, it means he’s made his resolve.”
“Precisely.”
“Ha Gate Master, track that child’s whereabouts. In the end, this is a matter between him and me.”
“Of course, but that’s precisely the difficult part.”
“He’s still traveling alone, I take it?”
“So I’ve heard. Since leaving Shaolin, he’s taken no one with him—only two or three Divine Wood Messengers as heralds…”
“Hmm… Not easy, then.”
Maeng Hyeok, who had been listening silently to their exchange, finally interjected.
“This journey to the Western Regions—is it ultimately to reclaim the Divine Wood Command?”
“What else? To move them all as one, the Divine Wood Command is essential. Whichever of us seizes it first claims them all—him or me.”
“Then the key is finding Gwanghwa Temple’s Jeon So-gi first…”
“Exactly. That’s why we’re heading to Dunhuang.”
At Seonwoyong’s reply, Ha Hongjin tilted his head and murmured.
“What a coincidence. For experts to flock to Dunhuang at this precise moment…”
“Has the culprit behind it been identified?”
“It was our cult, of course. But their true intent and background remain unknown…”
“Your organization has its limits. Seeing only the overt actions of peripheral branches suffices, I suppose.”
“I apologize for my shortcomings.”
“You’ve done well enough all this time. Much toil preparing for my unpredictable arrival.”
Then Maeng Hyeok cut in again.
“Will you continue traveling with that merchant caravan, my lord?”
“Why not? No one will suspect a thing. The head of a modest caravan, loaded with mountains of silk.”
“True enough. Now that you’ve properly entered our cult’s domain, your movements must remain absolutely secret, Cult Leader—until the Divine Wood Command is secured.”
“That’s why I chose this method. I can’t reveal my true face until I have it.”
“Wise, but does anyone in the cult know of your departure?”
“Nonsense. That child has likely heard of my departure by now—shedding bones and reborn in this form. Do you think the Smiling Buddha would just sit idly by?”
As the name Smiling Buddha Hyeonjin slipped from Seonwoyong’s lips, Maeng Hyeok and Ha Hongjin’s faces twisted.
“You met him recently—why not take his life then?”
Ha Hongjin shook his head, genuinely regretful.
“I couldn’t. The time hadn’t come—I felt it.”
“Tch… In any case, doesn’t that mean the hypocrites of the orthodox sects know of your departure too?”
Maeng Hyeok asked.
“Of course. High-ranking orthodox figures have likely heard of that child’s flight and my departure. Who knows—perhaps portraits of us both are circulating across the Central Plains… Haha…”
“It’s no laughing matter. Who knows what vile schemes they’re plotting…”
“Worry not. I’ve made my own preparations this time, thorough ones.”
“Understood. Then please issue your commands to us.”
With that, Maeng Hyeok placed both hands on the floor in a solemn expression.
Ha Hongjin, seated beside him, bowed deeply with equal gravity.
Seonwoyong slowly began issuing orders.
“Maeng Hyeok, first seek out the Bright Right Messenger Do Il-gi and inform him of my departure. Gather him, the brothers we worked with in the past, and the Three Great Commanders’ men in the cult who will obey my will without question.”
“I humbly receive your command.”
Maeng Hyeok bowed deeply in acknowledgment.
“Ha Hongjin. Continue serving as our eyes and ears, as before. Monitor U Gyeongcheon’s movements and the orthodox experts’ actions in detail—and report them.”
“I receive your command. It’s our duty as always; I’ll carry it out with utmost devotion. But allow me to assign a messenger to stay by your side for contact.”
“Naturally. We need more carriages anyway—prepare two with drivers and send them to Takyoung Inn by morning.”
“They’ll carry hay and water, I presume? I’ll see to it.”
“Good. Our urgent business is settled, so let’s drink.”
Seonwoyong smiled and raised his glass.
“How could we refuse? To match the gold you’ve bestowed, we’d empty every cask in Wolmyeong Pavilion. Haha…”
“Hey, Brother Ha. Send in some proper courtesans too. It’s been ages since I smelled powder.”
“Why didn’t you come find me once during that time? Would I have refused you a drink? Heh heh.”
“You fool—the Cult Leader entrusted me with his body double, a saintly vessel. Where could I go carousing?”
“What a stickler… Grab a sword, a foot long, and drink with that. Heh.”
“Hey now. Enough foolishness—hurry and have them set a proper table.”
Moments later, maids began arranging exquisite dishes atop the tables, filling cups to overflowing with fragrant liquor.
Once all servants withdrew, Ha Wolhyang—the one who had left earlier—entered quietly, bowing her head to the floor.
“She’s my granddaughter. Seems she followed my orders a bit too zealously—please forgive her.”
Ha Hongjin smiled as he spoke to Seonwoyong, who laughed in response.
“How could I not? Isn’t she one of our cult?”
“Your leniency is a blessing. Girl, what are you waiting for? Pay proper respects. This is the true master of our Great Cloud Bright Religion. Heh heh…”
At Ha Hongjin’s words, Ha Wolhyang finally raised her head.
“This girl dares beg the Cult Leader’s forgiveness for her grave sin.”
As Ha Wolhyang bowed again, Seonwoyong lightly raised one hand.
Her body floated up gently, straightening naturally.
“Enough. Rise. I’ve heard you’re leading the Ha Clan well, succeeding your grandfather. Keep it up.”
As he spoke, Seonwoyong filled an empty glass and sent it floating slowly through the air.
Ha Wolhyang received it reverently and drained it.
“Now, Ha Wolhyang, the Third Generation Leader of the Ha Clan, toasts the Cult Leader with respect.”
Indeed.
Ha Wolhyang was the current leader of the Ha Clan (Afternoon Gate), and the Hundred-Faced Ghost Hand Ha Hongjin—former elder of the Great Cloud Bright Religion—was the very founder of this faction.
The Hundred-Faced Ghost Hand Ha Hongjin, renowned in the martial world, was a god to thieves and pickpockets, true to his moniker, his face unknown to all.
But his true identity was the chief of the Eight Roads Office, the cult’s intelligence arm, and the Disciplinary Elder overseeing ordinary believers’ lives.
Given the secrecy required, even within the Great Cloud Bright Religion, only a handful knew who he was.
It was U Cheon-so of old—Seonwoyong now—who had ordered him to establish a faction among the common folk, unlinked to the cult, to gauge the world’s sentiments.
And now, a century later, the Ha Clan had extended its reach into every alley of the Central Plains.